GOAL TO GO

Episode 1.12

“Touchback”

by David Polk
 2.

RECAP

We Recap events from Previous Episodes, ending on Gale

discovering she’s pregnant.

TEASER

FADE IN:

INT. MATEO’S – NIGHT

The lights in this chic Hollywood restaurant are low,

romantic. We see one or two CELEBRITIES dining. ANGLE ON
the hand of a black woman caressing a white man’s hand.

GABRIELLE (O.S.)
Billy, we’ve reached that point.

Billy Donahue and Gabrielle Woods are at a cozy, candle lit

corner table. A BOTTLE OF CHATEAU BRION rests in a silver
ice bucket next to them.

BILLY
What point is that?

GABRIELLE
The point in every relationship where
things are serious enough for hearts to
be broken, and by hearts I mean mine.

BILLY
Gabrielle, hurting you is the last
thing I want to do, you know that.

GABRIELLE
I know. That’s why I’m giving you an
out.

BILLY
What?

GABRIELLE
Billy, if we keep going, I’m going to
fall in love with you. And trust me,
dealing with a black woman in love is
not for the faint of heart.

BILLY
(a charming smile)
I think I can handle it.
 3.

GABRIELLE
I think you can too, but can Gale?
(off his reaction)
Billy, I’ve been where Gale is now,
ignorant to the fact that her man is
cheating. Sometimes I feel awful about
what we’re doing but I don’t regret a
single moment that I’ve spent with you.
I also know I won’t settle for being a
substitute for her.

BILLY
You know that’s not how I think of you.

GABRIELLE
Billy, eventually you and Gale are
going to reconnect, and when you do
someone is going to get hurt.

A long beat.

BILLY
Elle, you know I’m crazy about you.
But I can’t leave her.

GABRIELLE
I know that, Billy. And I would never
ask you to...If we end it now I’ll
always remember our love affair as a
special time in my life.

BILLY
Is that what you want, to call it
quits?

GABRIELLE
That’s up to you, Billy...I’m not some
lovesick schoolgirl whose head is in
the clouds. I’m a big girl who lives
in the real world, a world where love
is messy and happily ever after ends
before it begins. I can handle being
the other woman, Billy, but I won’t
sneak around like some cheap tart.

BILLY
Elle, I don’t understand. What are you
suggesting I do?
 4.

GABRIELLE
If I give you my heart and continue to
sneak around, that would only cheapen
what we have together. I won’t do that
to myself. But if Gale knows what
she’s up against then it’s her choice.

BILLY
You want me to tell Gale about us?

END TEASER

ACT ONE

EXT. HOSMER COMPLEX - DAY

Achilles is on his cell phone having a heated conversation.

ACHILLES
What do you want me to do, Portia? I
can’t come home now. We’re heavy into
our conditioning program and getting
ready for spring camp. Besides, I
can’t do anything for your father. He
got himself into this mess.

PORTIA (V.O.)
(angrily)
You’re not listening to me, Lee. They
think he stole money from them. He
could go to prison. All you have to do
is tell the investigators that he
wasn’t involved with any of the
boosters you met with.

ACHILLES
But it sounds to me like he was,
Portia. And that he stole money from
the church. Why should I cover for the
Right Reverend? He tried to use me!

PORTIA (V.O.)
Stop it, Lee! It’s not true and you
know it! Daddy would never do anything
to hurt you!
 5.

ACHILLES
Isn’t it? That must be why Coach was
grilling me about him. That’s what
their private investigator found out.
He went snooping around to find dirt on
me and found it on your father.

PORTIA (V.O.)
(crying)
Achilles, why are you being so
unreasonable? I swear to God, if you
keep talking like this I’ll...

ACHILLES
(interrupting)
What? You swear to God you’ll what,
Portia?

PORTIA (V.O.)
My God, what’s happened to you out
there? Who’s got you acting this way
toward me? I knew you should never
have left me and gone so far away.

ACHILLES
Portia, I’m late for the weight room.
I’ll call you la...

CLICK. She hangs up on him. He closes his phone and walks

into the building.

INT. HOSMER COMPLEX – CONTINUOUS

Achilles makes it only a few feet before his PHONE RINGS.

He whips it open.

ACHILLES
(fuming)
What?! I said I’m late for the weight
room!

VALERIE (V.O.)
Okay. This a bad time?

ACHILLES
(calms down)
Oh, Valerie. Hey, sorry about that.
 6.

INT. LOFT – DAY

Valerie’s standing in the middle of a loft apartment

furnished in modern chrome and leather. She’s looking out
the large window at a nice view of downtown Maitland.

VALERIE
It’s okay, stud. Write this address
down.

ACHILLES (V.O.)
Give me a sec, I need to get a
pen...Okay.

VALERIE
125 Bellingham, Apartment 3. Got it?

ACHILLES (V.O.)
Okay. Where’s this?

VALERIE
It’s where I want you to be after
workouts. It’s on the third floor, over
Sulky’s dry cleaners.

ACHILLES (V.O.)
Okay.

VALERIE
And Achilles, don’t strain yourself too
much in the weight room. You’re going
to have to use those muscles when you
get here.

INT. DR. RUBENSTEIN’S OFFICE – DAY

Cake D’Agostino is in a therapy session with Dr. Michelle

Rubenstein. Cake holds back tears.

MICHELLE
Cake, you realize that none of this was
your fault.

CAKE
No? I knew what I was doing, even when
I was 15. I wanted boys to want me.
No, I wanted men to want me.
 7.

MICHELLE
Cake, Sonny was 20 years old then. Old
enough to know it was wrong, whether
you tempted him or not. He would be
convicted in every state of the union
not to mention most countries in the
Western World. You’re the victim,
Cake, not an accomplice.

CAKE
What about now? I’m old enough to
choose, I’m old enough to know better
and I still went with him. I still
want to be with him.

MICHELLE
It’s natural that you would feel some
attachment to a man with whom you’ve
been so intimate, especially since that
intimacy began when you were so young.
But you mustn’t confuse attachment with
affection or even desire, Cake.

CAKE
(tears stream down)
He always said there was a reason we
were so good together. That it was
natural proof we were meant to be
together.

MICHELLE
He lied.

INT. CAKE’S BEDROOM – SUNSET

Cake lay on her bed staring into nothingness. A SOFT KNOCK

on the door gets her attention. After a beat, the door
opens and her mother, Sofia D’Agostino comes in.

SOFIA
Catherine, are you all right?

CAKE
You don’t have to check on me every 10
minutes, Mom. Besides, next time I try
to kill myself I’ll just blow my brains
out.

Sofia reacts. Cake turns her head away.

 8.

SOFIA
I just wanted to know you were all
right dear. I’m sorry to disturb you.

She turns and opens the door.

CAKE
Mom.

Sofia steels herself for more attitude. Turns to face her

daughter.

SOFIA
Yes, Catherine.

CAKE
(tears building)
Mom...

Sofia immediately softens, goes to the bed and takes Cake’s

hand.

CAKE
(tears flowing)
Mom...

Sofia takes Cake in her arms and Cake breaks down, sobbing
uncontrollably.

SOFIA
It’s okay, Baby. Mommy’s here...
Mommy’s here.

INT. LOCKER ROOM – SUNSET

PLAYERS mill about in various stages of dress. Achilles

dries off in front of his locker. His cell phone RINGS.
He reaches into the locker, checks the caller I.D., puts
the phone down and continues to towel off.

Dallas comes to his locker dressed in a sport coat,

collared shirt and crisp jeans. Defensive end Pete
Mitchell WHISTLES at him.

PETE
Looking mighty fine tonight, Senor
Morales.

Other players join in the good-natured ribbing. Dallas

looks in the mirror, combs his long hair.
 9.

DALLAS
Maybe if you guys put on a jacket once
in awhile you wouldn’t have to spend
all of your alone time beating off to
porn videos.

The players throw wet towels, underwear, etc., at him.

EXT. DONAHUE DRIVEWAY – NIGHT

Gracie pulls up in her Hyundai. J.R. meets the car, opens

the door for her. She’s in a pretty print dress.

GRACIE
Well, Johnny, how do I look?

J.R.
You look great.

And she does. He kisses her, takes her hand and leads her
into the house.

INT. DONAHUE LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

Billy and Gale are in conversation with Dallas and Cara

Trzcinski, who’s looking prettier than we’ve ever seen her.
J.R. and Gracie come in.

GALE
Gracie, don’t you look lovely tonight.

GRACIE
Thank you, Mrs. Donahue. You look
great too. But you always do.

GALE
Thank you, dear. I don’t believe
you’ve met Cara and Dallas. Cara
Trzcinski, Dallas Morales, this is
Gracie Wellington.

Warm greetings all around.

BILLY
Well, now that we’re all here, why
don’t we get to the main event? I’m
starving.
 10.

INT. DINING ROOM – NIGHT

Billy and Gale sit at either end of the table. An

ATTENDANT serves the couples rib eye steak and potatoes.

GALE
So, Cara, Billy tells me you’re also a
scholarship athlete.

CARA
Yes, I’m a forward on the soccer team.

GALE
(smiles)
So you’re also a football player.

CARA
(smiles)
Yes.

DALLAS
Red – I mean, Cara – was the team’s
leading scorer this season. She had
more goals and assists than any
freshman, man or woman, in Wa Tech
soccer history.

CARA
Wa Tech’s only had a Division I soccer
program for 7 years, Dallas, so that’s
not saying much.

BILLY
I’ve heard good things about you from
Dr. Webb, Cara. She said you remind
her a lot of Achilles Addams, except on
the soccer field.

Cara almost spits out the water she’s drinking.

CARA
Sorry.

DALLAS
I’ll be sure to tell Q.B. that the next
time I see him.

CARA
Oh, thanks.
 11.

BILLY
What? Do you know him?

CARA
Yeah, sort of.

DALLAS
Yeah, as in they sort of argue like
cats and dogs whenever they’re around
each other.

BILLY
(laughs)
Well, I hope you set him straight as
much as possible.

GALE
Funny, I never thought of Achilles as
the argumentative type. He’s usually
pretty quiet and keeps to himself.

BILLY
What about you, Gracie, do you play any
sport in school?

GRACIE
No, not really, Mr. Donahue.

GALE
(correcting her)
Coach, dear. Coach Donahue.
(to Billy)
Honey, Gracie’s more of the academic
type, isn’t that right, dear? You
especially like Math, yes?

J.R. shoots daggers at his mother.

GRACIE
Well, I try hard, but I’m not a genius
or anything like that.

CARA
You’re a senior at Central?

GRACIE
Yes.

CARA
You been there all four years?
 12.

GRACIE
Yes. Yes I have.

CARA
Have you had Billups for Calculus yet?

GRACIE
(covering)
Um, no, not yet?

CARA
Hmmm. Well, you will. Everybody does
eventually. Like they say, you can run
but you can’t hide.

GRACIE
Oh, so you went to Central, Cara?

CARA
Yeah. I graduated last year. I was in
Math Club my last two years. I’m
surprised I never ran into you.

GRACIE
Well, I’m not much for clubs and things
like that.

DALLAS
(laughs)
Math Club? You?

CARA
Yes, me!...So Gracie if you’re at
Central and J.R.’s at Billings Academy,
how’d you two meet?

J.R.
(before Gracie speaks)
After school.

GALE
J.R., don’t be rude, Sweetheart. Why
don’t you let Gracie speak for herself?

J.R.
Sorry, Gracie.

GRACIE
It’s okay, J.R.
(to Cara)
We met doing community service at the
Lincoln Field House.
 13.

CARA
(beat, understanding)
Oh...Well, I guess it’s true that every
cloud has a silver lining.

Cara smiles and Gracie warms to her. Gale covers her

growing dislike for both girls.

GRACIE
I like your nose ring. A friend of
mine has one just like it, only hers is
a ruby instead of a diamond.

CARA
Thanks. I love your ring. Do you
mind?

Cara takes Gracie’s hand, admires the purple

gemstone RING.

GRACIE
(beams with pride)
J.R. gave it to me on Valentine’s Day.

J.R. and Gale exchange a glance. She’s not happy.

END ACT ONE

 14.

ACT TWO

INT. LOFT – NIGHT

Valerie rolls off of Achilles onto the bed. They’re both

totally exhausted.

VALERIE
(winded)
Damn...That was good.

ACHILLES
(winded)
Glad I could be of service.

She musters the strength to reach back and playfully nudge

him. He puts his arm around her waist, kisses her shoulder.

VALERIE
There’s $100 for you on the dresser on
your way out.

ACHILLES
$100! That’s it?

VALERIE
I only came once, stud.

They laugh.

ACHILLES
I’m thirsty. You think they’ve got
anything to drink in this place?

He gets out of bed.

VALERIE
Try the fridge. Maybe you’ll get
lucky...again.

ACHILLES
(laughs)
You want anything while I’m up?

VALERIE
Whatever you have is fine.
 15.

INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT

Achilles opens the refrigerator. There’s a lot to choose

from inside. He pulls out a BOTTLE OF ORANGE JUICE and
takes a swig.

Valerie walks in wearing a worn “PROPERTY OF WASHINGTON

TECH FOOTBALL” t-shirt.

ACHILLES
(ref. the t-shirt)
You look good in that.

She walks up and stands close to him.

VALERIE
My boyfriend wears it under his game
jersey. Maybe you’ve heard of him?
They call him the Iceman ‘cause he’s so
cool under pressure.

She kisses him.

ACHILLES
Well, tell your boyfriend he’s got a
pretty hot girlfriend.

VALERIE
Achilles.

ACHILLES
Yeah?

VALERIE
You’ve got a pretty hot girlfriend.

They kiss again.

VALERIE
Find anything in there?

ACHILLES
Yeah! This fridge is stocked. You
think the people who live here mind if
we eat their stuff?

She takes a drink of the orange juice.

VALERIE
I don’t know, would you?
 16.

ACHILLES
To be honest, yeah, I’d be pissed off
to find out somebody was screwing in my
bed and raiding my fridge.

VALERIE
(smiles)
Then I guess it’s a good thing it’s
your bed you’re screwing in and your
fridge you’re raiding.

ACHILLES
What? Valerie, what are you talking
about?

She steps back and spreads her arms, as if presenting the

loft.

VALERIE
It’s yours.

ACHILLES
All right, I know we just spent the
last hour screwing our brains out, but
have you lost your mind?

VALERIE
The loft is yours for the rest of the
semester.

ACHILLES
I already have an apartment. I can’t
afford to rent two.

VALERIE
Then just rent one, this one.

ACHILLES
Valerie, I have a roommate, remember?
If I don’t pay my half of the rent
Lindsay’s screwed.

VALERIE
Please, Achilles, he doesn’t need your
money. His parents are loaded.

ACHILLES
How do you know that?
 17.

VALERIE
Everybody knows his mother’s Little
Debbie from that old T.V. show and his
father runs a studio in Hollywood.

ACHILLES
Well, what if I just like him as a
roommate?

VALERIE
He’s disgusting! I can’t stand the
thought of making love to you with him
next door. Even you said he treated
that girl, what’s her name – Cat? –
like dirt.

ACHILLES
Valerie, look at this place. The
rent’s got to be twice what I pay now.

VALERIE
The rent is whatever you can afford.
(off his ‘Say what?’
reaction)
One of my Delta sister’s dad owns a lot
of real estate, including this
building. He’s agreed to rent it out
at a student friendly rate for the rest
of the semester.

ACHILLES
Valerie, I don’t know...

She presses against him, looks into his eyes.

VALERIE
What is there to know, stud? We only
have three and a half months to be
together. Let’s make the most of it.
(loops her arms around his
neck)
Say yes and there’s another $100 on the
dresser for you.

ACHILLES
Only $100?

They kiss.
 18.

INT. DONAHUE GUEST BEDROOM – NIGHT

Billy is undressing following the dinner party with the

kids. A light KNOCK on the door. He crosses the room,
opens the door. Gale is holding a blanket and looking
incredibly sexy in a negligee.

GALE
Can I come in?

She comes in. He closes the door.

GALE
It’s supposed to get chilly tonight. I
thought you might need something to
keep you warm.

She holds out the blanket but he knows that’s not what
she’s offering him.

BILLY
(takes blanket)
Thank you.

She crosses the room, sits on the end of the bed. She
holds him with her eyes.

GALE
Is there anything else you need, Billy?

He sets the blanket on a chair, goes to her. She looks up

at him longingly. He holds her chin with his finger and
thumb, kisses her softly. She undresses him slowly -
unbuttoning his shirt, unbuckling his belt, peeling off his
undershirt. As she undresses him she kisses his neck,
chest and stomach, caresses his skin. Finally, when she
unzips his pants and pushes them off, he gently pushes her
back onto the bed and moves on top of her. They kiss
passionately.

Billy and Gale make love through the night, climaxing

explosively as dawn breaks.

INT. DONAHUE GUEST BEDROOM – DAY

Gale wakes up alone in bed. She looks around. No sign of

Billy. She rests her head on the pillow again, stares
pensively at the ceiling.
 19.

EXT. COLLEGE HILL – DAY

Billy jogs through Maitland’s affluent neighborhoods. He’s

worked up a good sweat. The look on his face tells us he’s
got a lot on his mind.

INT. DONAHUE BREAKFAST ROOM – DAY

Gale and her mother Rose Ryan are having fruit and coffee.
O.S. we hear the sounds of the construction crew hard at
work building Rose’s cottage. Then we hear someone come
into the kitchen next door.

GALE
Billy? Honey, is that you?

Billy comes in, sweating from his run. He kisses Gale.

BILLY
‘Morning. Good morning, Mom.

ROSE
Good morning, Billy Boy.

GALE
You left early.

BILLY
(pours a cup of coffee)
Left about the same time I always do.

Beat.

ROSE
Does this mean you two are sleeping in
the same bed again?

Billy and Gale look at Rose, then at each other.

ROSE
It’s about time.

Gale blushes.

EXT. GRACIE’S TRAILER – DAY

Gracie is tidying up what you could loosely call the front

yard of her family’s trailer home. She bends over to pick
up an empty beer can.
 20.

JAMAL (O.S.)
Damn, Gigi, you got a nice ass for a
white girl.

She turns around to see Jamal crossing the street.

GRACIE
Hey, Jamal.

JAMAL
What you doing out here picking up
trash? Fine thing like you ought to be
kicking back eating chocolate bonbons
and shit like that.

GRACIE
(laughs)
Yeah, that’s me all right, living the
lifestyles of the rich and famous.

JAMAL
So is your moms home?

GRACIE
Nah, she got a double shift. Needs the
overtime.

He licks his lips. Steps up close to her.

JAMAL
Little nippy out here, don’t you think?
Maybe we should get inside, warm each
other up. You know, like old times.

GRACIE
(apprehensive)
Jamal, that was a long time ago. You
know I’m with Johnny now.

JAMAL
Come on, girl. I know that pretty
little white boy ain’t putting it on
you the way Jamal did.

He presses against her.

GRACIE
Jamal, please.

JAMAL
Come on Gigi. Hook a brother up.
 21.

INT. GRACIE’S BEDROOM – DAY

Jamal is putting it on Gracie in the worst way. He comes

hard and loudly. She’s just relieved that it’s over.

INT. TRAILER – LATER

Jamal snorts coke from the cocktail table. Gracie sits as

far from him as she can on the sofa, her legs curled
underneath her.

JAMAL
Damn, Gigi, where’d you score this
shit? It’s good.

GRACIE
Guy named Sasha. Nobody calls me that
anymore, Jamal.

JAMAL
What?

GRACIE
I said nobody calls me Gigi anymore.

He gives her an odd look, then does another line of coke,

rubs his gums with what’s left over.

JAMAL
Is that real?

She covers her ring with her other hand.

GRACIE
(lying)
No.

JAMAL
Let me see it.

GRACIE
It’s probably not real, Jamal.

JAMAL
I said let me see it.

He reaches out, grabs her wrist and pulls her up off the
sofa.

GRACIE
Ow! Dammit, Jamal, that hurt!
 22.

JAMAL
Little Johnny get this for you?

GRACIE
It’s just glass, Jamal. He’s only 15-
years-old. He doesn’t have the money
for a real ring.

He shoots her a threatening look.

JAMAL
Don’t lie to me, bitch.

She pulls her hand away.

GRACIE
Look, Jamal, you got what you came here
for. You got laid and you got high, so
why don’t you just go now.

JAMAL
You telling Jamal to leave? What, you
expecting Little Johnny to come around?
Listen, I popped that cherry. I made
you a woman. Little Johnny ought to be
thanking me every time he gets his
rocks off, especially if he’s tapping
the tight little ass. Jamal blazed
that tail.
(laughing)
Hey, that’s funny. Get it, ‘blazed
that tail?’

Gracie rolls her eyes, gets off the sofa and heads toward
the kitchen.

JAMAL
Hey, didn’t I hear that coach got a new
contract? Something like a million a
year?

GRACIE
I wouldn’t know, Jamal. I don’t even
like football.

He gets up, follows her.

INT. TRAILER KITCHEN – DAY

Gracie pulls a BOTTLE OF ORANGE JUICE from the

refrigerator, looks for a glass in the clutter of dishes.
 23.

JAMAL
That means Little Johnny’s got means.

GRACIE
He doesn’t even have a car, Jamal.

JAMAL
Of course he don’t have a car. He
ain’t old enough to drive yet. What,
you think I’m stupid, Gigi? He had
enough to buy you that ring.

GRACIE
He bought that with money he got
dealing.

JAMAL
(surprised)
Your boy’s dealing?

GRACIE
Not anymore. He got busted so he
stopped.

She can’t find a glass so just drinks from the bottle.

Jamal checks out the ring. His wheels are turning. He
takes the bottle from her, grabs her ring hand with his
other hand.

GRACIE
Ow!

JAMAL
Listen, Gigi, you keep catching Little
Johnny’s cum and he’ll do anything you
ask him to do. That’s a sweet ass
setup and you’re out of your fucking
mind if you don’t think Jamal’s going
to get him some of that action.

END ACT TWO

 24.

ACT THREE

INT. SONNY’S APARTMENT – SUNSET

Sonny’s in a La-Z-Boy watching television. He’s still got

a bandage on his face where Cake shot his ear off.

ON THE TELEVISION Gabrielle Woods is interviewing Manny

Ramirez on ESPN 360.

GABRIELLE (V.O.)
So, Manny, you’ve often been criticized
for not giving 100 percent. It’s one
of the reasons your Red Sox teammates
reportedly voted you off the team
several years ago and why your Dodgers
teammates are grumbling after yet
another early exit from the playoffs...

A KNOCK on the door. Sonny mutes the television, goes to

the door. He looks through the peephole, opens the door.

Cara BURSTS in and KICKS him in the balls. He doubles over

in agony. She hits him in his bandaged face, spins to land
a roundhouse kick. He blocks it, shoves her against the
wall, knocking photos and neatly arranged empty beer
bottles down.

SONNY
What the fuck, Cat!

She attacks again, landing a wicked haymaker on the good

side of his face. He recovers, jabs her hard in the nose,
drawing blood and knocking her to the floor. He moves
toward her. She spins on the floor, kicking his legs out
from under him. He hits the floor with a thud. She
scrambles to her feet, rushes to the front door, grabs an
ALUMINUM BASEBALL BAT leaning against the wall.

Sonny gets to one knee and looks up. Cara gets a running
start and TEES OFF on his head with the bat. He hits the
floor in a heap, rolls onto his back in a concussion. Cara
stands over him, breathing heavily, nose and mouth
bleeding.

CARA
Touch her again...and I’ll kill you.

She tosses the bat aside and walks out. ON TELEVISION:

VIDEO FOOTAGE of Manny Ramirez jacking a home run out of
Dodger stadium.
 25.

EXT. WALKUP APARTMENT BUILDING – SUNSET

Dallas is waiting inside his Chevy SSR. He sees Cara

approaching, blood running from her nose. He gets out of
the roadster.

DALLAS
Red, what the fuck happened?

CARA
Nothing. Let’s go.

She walks past him to the passenger side.

DALLAS
Cara!

CARA
I said let’s go, Dallas!

She gets in the car. He pauses then does as he’s told.

INT. PENNEBAKER HOME GYM - DAY

Harold Pennebaker is doing low impact exercises under the

watchful eye of personal trainer RAOUL (26), a totally
ripped piece of man candy.

Maria Pennebaker and Gale come in.

MARIA
Harold, baby, Gale and I are about to
leave for lunch.

HAROLD
Oh, hello, Gale.

GALE
Harold, you’re looking fit as a fiddle.

He towels sweat from his face, walks to them.

HAROLD
I’d get a hug but...

GALE
I understand. I don’t want to
interrupt your workout. Looks like
you’re in good hands with Raoul.

Raoul smiles.
 26.

MARIA
Isn’t it too bad it took a heart attack
to get him into the gym with Raoul?

HAROLD
Well I’m here now Kitten, and Raoul’s
whipping me back into shape. Isn’t
that right, Raoul?

RAOUL
(smiles)
That’s right, Mr. P.

GALE
Well, Harold, I just wanted to pass
along Billy’s best wishes.

HAROLD
Tell the Coach I’m looking forward to
beating the pants off him on the links
as soon as possible.
(smiling)
I know he lets me win, but still...

When Gale and Maria leave, Harold and Raoul exchange a

look.

INT. PENNEBAKER MANSION – DAY

Gale and Maria walk down the hall.

MARIA
See what I mean, Gale?

GALE
Raoul is a nice looking young man.

MARIA
Nice looking? Honey, if that boy
weren’t a fruit Harold really would
have something to worry about.

INT. CAFÉ – DAY

Gale and Maria sit at a table in the café.

 27.

GALE
Maria, you’ve been positively beaming
all afternoon. What’s going on? Has
Harold bought you another diamond
necklace?

MARIA
I’m so glad you asked, Gale. It’s so
much better than a diamond necklace.

GALE
Do tell!

MARIA
I promised Harold I wouldn’t say
anything until we were past the iffy
stage, but since you’ve asked I can
claim you dragged it out of me.

GALE
(excitement growing)
What, dear? What is it?

MARIA
I’m pregnant!

GALE
(stunned)
What?

MARIA
Yes! Two months. Isn’t it wonderful?

GALE
Yes. Wonderful!

MARIA
I know. I can hardly believe it
myself! Me, Maria Thomopoulos, with
child! That sounds so...so, wild! I’m
going to need your help, Gale. I don’t
know the first thing about babies.
You’ll help me, won’t you?

GALE
Yes, of course, dear.

MARIA
I never thought I’d be so excited about
getting fatter than a pig and
everything else that goes with being
(MORE)
 28.

MARIA (CONT’D)
pregnant, but every morning, right
after I puke my guts out, I thank God
for this little miracle growing inside
of me. Was it that way for you?

GALE
Yes, dear. It was very exciting.

INT. MATHILDA’S OFFICE – DAY

Mathilda is at her desk itemizing Gale’s business receipts.

She comes across one and stops. She studies it closely.

INSERT – RECEIPT

Among the listed items the one that catches her attention:
“home pregnancy kit”

RETURN TO SCENE

Gale pokes her head in the door.

GALE
Mattie, honey, is any of my medication
left?

MATHILDA
(covering)
Yes, I believe there is a package in
your bottom left drawer. How was lunch
with Maria?

GALE
Oh, it was fine. You know how it goes
with Maria. She’s a dear but sometimes
she tries too hard. The right bottom
drawer you said?

MATHILDA
Left, bottom.

Gale leaves. After a couple of beats Mathilda gets up and

heads to Gale’s office next door.

INT. GALE’S OFFICE – DAY

Gale is already in the drawer looking for the

antidepressants.
 29.

MATHILDA
Gale, should you be taking those?

GALE
What? Why not, Mattie?

MATHILDA
You just finished a package last week.
Starting another would be doubling the
dosage.

GALE
Mattie, it’s been a very difficult day.

MATHILDA
I’m sure it has been, Gale, but perhaps
you should reconsider taking those.

Mathilda goes to her desk. She holds out the receipt. Gale
looks at it then at Mathilda.

INT. INDOOR PRACTICE FACILITY – DAY

Coach Bob Garcia is working with Ricky “Burner” Turner on a

quickness drill. Coach Bull Heffernan storms over to them.

BULL
Bob, what the hell were you thinking
scheduling my skill players for this
Pilates bullshit?!

GARCIA
Take a blow, Burner. Be back in five.

BURNER
Okay, coach.

BULL
Better make it 20, Burner.

BURNER
Okay.

He beats it the hell out of there. He knows this is going

to get ugly.

GARCIA
You shouldn’t talk to me like that in
front of the players, Bull.
 30.

BULL
Dammit, Bob, when it comes to my
offense I’ll talk to anyone any way I
damn well please.

GARCIA
To answer your question, what I was
thinking is that Pilates was pretty
effective in bringing Achilles back, so
it’s probably worth working it into our
conditioning program.

BULL
Come on, Bob, he worked out with some
little girl on the soccer team for a
few weeks and you want to put the whole
offense through her program? Give me a
fucking break! He was probably just
trying to get into her pants.

GARCIA
I don’t know what “her” program was,
but most fitness experts will tell you
that Pilates provides excellent
conditioning, strength and flexibility
workouts. And, by the way, thousands
of athletes have made it part of their
regular training regimens.

BULL
Well not the athletes on this team!

GARCIA
What is your problem, Bull? You’ve
been looking for ways to undermine me
since the beginning of last season.

BULL
The only problem I have right now, Bob,
is that a special teams coach is
stepping outside his area by changing
the conditioning program for the
offense without the offensive
coordinator’s input.

GARCIA
Sorry, Bull. Next time I’ll run it
past you.

BULL
Don’t bother. Next time and until
further notice the answer’s no!
 31.

Bull spins around and storms off. PLAYERS turn their

heads, act like they didn’t hear a thing.

INT. BILLY’S OUTER OFFICE – DAY

Bull strides in. Donna Dixon looks up from her computer

screen.

BULL
He in?

DONNA
Coach Heffernan. Yes, but...

He walks past and knocks on the door, doesn’t wait to

enter.

INT. BILLY’S OFFICE – DAY

Attorney Iris Cross and Billy are talking when Bull barges
in. They stop talking and look up at him.

BULL
Billy, I’m sorry to interrupt, but this
is important.

Donna appears at the door, exchanges a look with Billy.

BILLY
It’s all right, Donna.
(after she closes the door)
What is it, Bull? Iris and I were in
the middle of something and it’s also
important.

BULL
Sorry, Miss Cross.

IRIS
Coach Donahue, how about we take a few
minutes? I can put in a call to our
outside counsel to follow up on your
scheduling questions.

BILLY
Thanks, Iris. Let’s meet back here in
20 minutes. That work for you, Bull?
 32.

BULL
(feeling the reprimand)
Yeah, sure. Sorry again, Miss Cross.

Iris walks out.

BILLY
That young woman’s trying to keep me
out of court, so I hope this is more
important than that, Bull.

BULL
Again, Billy I’m...

BILLY
Sorry. Yeah, I got that part already.
What’s up, Bull?

BULL
It’s Bob.

BILLY
What about him?

BULL
I’ve had it with his meddling and
smart-assed attitude. The kid’s
coached for two seasons, one of them in
JUCO, and he’s taking all kinds of
liberties with my offense. He never
even took a snap as a starter at
Georgia Tech.

BILLY
Bob’s a smart young coach. He’s great
in the locker room and he did one hell
of a job as recruiting coordinator. He
landed Taylor.

BULL
You landed Taylor, Billy.

BILLY
Because Bob did all the leg work.
Look, he’s young, sure, but so were we
once.

BULL
Young or not I’ve had it with him,
Billy.
 33.

BILLY
What’s that mean, Bull?

BULL
It means I can’t coach on the same
staff with him.

BILLY
Come on, Bull. You’re pissed, I get
it, but don’t go writing checks you
can’t cash.

BULL
I mean it, Billy. He goes or I go.

END ACT THREE

 34.

ACT FOUR

INT. DONAHUE LIVING ROOM – DAY

Mathilda and Gale sit across from each other. Mathilda

looks nauseous.

MATHILDA
(quietly)
How could you?

GALE
When I found out about Dallas and that
woman, it was devastating, Mattie.
I’ve never hurt so much in my life.
Not even when Daddy died. I just
wanted to die. Then I wanted to hurt
Billy any way I could, even if he never
found out about it. It was foolish of
me I know...

MATHILDA
(anger rising)
Foolish? Foolish, Gale? Getting drunk
and driving into a ditch is foolish.
Overdosing on cocaine when your husband
loses a playoff game is foolish.
Eating antidepressants like candy is
foolish!

GALE
Mattie? Mattie, honey, I know...

Mathilda loses it, gets in Gale’s face.

MATHILDA
For Christ’s sake, Gale, what were you
thinking?!

GALE
Mattie, please, don’t you think I feel
bad enough?

MATHILDA
No, Gale, I don’t think you feel bad
enough! Why should you? You know
Billy and I are always here to clean up
whatever mess you make! And all the
while you just keep right on smiling
and waving, gliding down the runway of
life like Miss America! Well I don’t
(MORE)
 35.

MATHILDA (CONT’D.)
think you can count on him this time.
And I don’t know if you can count on me
this time either!

She spins, walks across the room holding her head in anger-
frustration. We hear the front door open O.S. J.R. and
Gracie come into the living room holding hands.

J.R.
Hey, Mom. Mattie.
(realizing)
Is something wrong?

INT. LOFT – SUNSET

Achilles’ cell phone RINGS and VIBRATES on the table in

front of him. He’s sitting in a leather chair in sweat
pants. He stares at the phone until it stops.

Valerie, in a kimono, walks in from the kitchen, eating ice

cream from the carton. She looks at the phone. Then they
look at each other. She moves toward the bed, lets the
kimono fall to the floor behind her. Achilles follows her.

INT. DONAHUE MASTER BEDROOM – NIGHT

Gale is astride Billy in bed. They’re making love

passionately.

EXT. COLLEGE HILL - DAY

Achilles is stretching before a morning run. Cara’s piece

of shit Mustang pulls up to the curb. She gets out. She’s
got a BANDAGE across her broken nose.

ACHILLES
You miss a day and then you’re late
when you do show up.

CARA
(gives him the finger)
Bite me, Einstein.

ACHILLES
No thanks. I prefer to leave the shitty
jobs for Morales.

She begins stretching.

 36.

ACHILLES
What happened?

She looks up at him. He gestures to his own nose.

CARA
Nothing.

He stands right in front of her, looks in her eyes.

ACHILLES
Did Morales do that to you?

CARA
What? No!

ACHILLES
(pressing)
Lindsay?

CARA
(beat)
No.
(then realizing)
You care?

ACHILLES
What? Hell no!

CARA
(enjoying it)
You do! You care about me!

ACHILLES
Bullshit!

CARA
Bullshit, bullshit! You care!

He starts jogging, leaving her behind.

ACHILLES
Keep dreaming, Lesbot.

She takes off after him.

CARA
Deny all you want but you do! You
care!

ACHILLES
La-la-la-la-
 37.

EXT. FOOD KING PARKING LOT - DAY

Gale is loading groceries into the trunk of her Jaguar.

When she closes the trunk, she’s startled to find Phil
Elliott standing behind her.

GALE
My God, Phil, are you trying to scare
the life out of me?

PHIL
I thought you were going to call so we
could meet somewhere and talk.

GALE
There’s nothing to talk about, Phil.
Now please, stop this nonsense and get
on with your life.

She steps forward but he blocks her.

GALE
Phil, don’t do this.

A WOMAN approaches with a TODDLER sitting in a food cart.

WOMAN
Hello, Mrs. Donahue! How are you
today?

GALE
Hello. I’m fine, thank you.

Gale gets past Phil, makes a beeline to the cart and the
toddler.

GALE
And what’s your name, little man?

WOMAN
His name’s Spencer. We call him
Spence.

GALE
Well, hello there, Spence.

She lets the toddler grab her fingers. She’s touched by

the child’s tender innocence.

WOMAN
Hello, Phi. Great game against Fresno
State.
 38.

PHIL
Thanks.

GALE
(ref. Spence)
He’s just adorable.

WOMAN
Thank you. Please give my best to the
Coach. We’re big Sea Devils fans and
always have been. Whoooo-Aaaaah.

GALE
Whoooo-Aaaah.

She waves at the toddler as the woman pushes the cart away
toward her car.

PHIL
I meant it when I said I won’t let you
just push me aside, Gale.

She unlocks her car with her key fob.

GALE
You don’t have a choice, Phil. Do you
really believe I’m going to leave my
husband, the man I’ve loved for over 20
years, because we had sex two or three
times? Wake up, Phil. Jess loves you.
I don’t. I never did. I never will.

She opens the car door, puts her purse inside.

PHIL
Maybe you’d think differently if Coach
knew about us.

She stops, looks at him with ice-cold, deadly eyes.

GALE
I’m going to forget you said that,
Phillip. And if you know what’s good
for you, you’d better forget you did
too.

She gets in the car, starts the engine. She glares at him
through the window as she backs out then pulls away.
 39.

EXT. SCHOOL YARD – DAY

J.R. is hanging outside the school with a couple of his

high school BUDDIES. Gracie’s Hyundai pulls up and he says
goodbye to the guys.

INT. HYUNDAI – MOVING – DAY

The car enters the highway going out of town.

J.R.
Where we going?

GRACIE
I want to show you something.

J.R.
What?

GRACIE
(smiling)
It’s a surprise. You like surprises
don’t you, Johnny?

J.R.
Depends. What kind of surprise is it?

GRACIE
If I told you that, it wouldn’t be a
surprise, would it?

INT. DONAHUE MASTER BEDROOM – DAY

CLOSE ON Gale’s hands caressing her bare belly. She’s in

front of a full-length mirror trying to tell if she’s
showing.

INT. BILLY DONAHUE’S OFFICE – DAY

Billy’s standing at his floor-to-ceiling window, looking

out onto the football field, deep in thought. The intercom
BUZZES. He turns to his desk, taps the button.

BILLY
Yes, Donna, what is it?
 40.

DONNA (V.O.)
Sorry, Coach. I know you didn’t want
to be disturbed, but there’s someone
here to see you.

INT. BILLY’S OUTER OFFICE – DAY

Donna is at her desk looking up at Gabrielle.

BILLY (V.O.)
Is it important, Donna?

DONNA
It’s Miss Woods from ESPN.

A couple of beats before Billy opens his office door.

GABRIELLE
Thank you, Donna.

Donna’s smile is professional but cool.

BILLY
Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE
Hello, Coach. Thank you for seeing me
without an appointment.

She goes into the office. The door closes behind them and
LOCKS. It’s clear from the expression on Donna’s face that
she really doesn’t like Gabrielle.

INT. BILLY’S OFFICE – DAY

Billy and Gabrielle stand in the middle of the room kissing

deeply. When they stop

GABRIELLE
Well, I wasn’t quite expecting that.

BILLY
I wasn’t quite expecting you.

GABRIELLE
Then I take it this is a pleasant
surprise?
 41.

BILLY
(smiling)
Elle, why are you here? I thought you
were headed for Sarasota to cover the
Cubs’ spring training.

GABRIELLE
I leave tonight. I wanted to see you
before I left, so I sold my producer an
excuse for why I needed to see
Charlotte before I head east.

They sit on his leather sofa.

BILLY
Elle, you know I’ve been meaning to
call.

GABRIELLE
Have you really?

Heavy silence as they stare at each other.

BILLY
Elle, I love Gale. I don’t want to
ever mislead you about that. I’ve
loved her since the day I met her and I
will until I die, no matter what
happens.
(beat)
But you’re inside of me now, like a
drug I can’t live without. Like a drug
I don’t want to live without.

She just looks at him, waits.

BILLY
When do you come back from Sarasota?

GABRIELLE
I’ll be back in L.A. in two weeks.

BILLY
(beat)
She’ll know about us before you get
back.
 42.

INT. CHARLOTTE WEBB’S OFFICE – DAY

Gabrielle and Charlotte embrace and kiss on the cheek.

Gabrielle goes to sit on the sofa, Charlotte perches
herself on the front of her desk.

CHARLOTTE
This is a surprise. Why are you here,
Elle?

GABRIELLE
Do I need an excuse to see my
godmother? It’s been a few weeks since
the dinner party. I just thought I’d
stop by the old stomping grounds.

CHARLOTTE
Bethany told me you were heading to
Florida to cover spring training.

GABRIELLE
That’s right. I have a flight out of
Seattle tonight.

CHARLOTTE
L.A. to Seattle to Sarasota? Don’t you
think Maitland’s a bit out of the way?

GABRIELLE
(a disarming smile)
What’s with the third degree,
Charlotte?

CHARLOTTE
You’ve seen Coach Donahue since you’ve
been here?

GABRIELLE
Yes.

CHARLOTTE
What are you doing, Elle?

GABRIELLE
What do you mean?

CHARLOTTE
All right, I’ll be plain. Are you
sleeping with Billy?

Busted. Gabrielle can’t even try to cover.

 43.

GABRIELLE
Charlotte, I...

CHARLOTTE
You are, aren’t you?

GABRIELLE
Yes.

CHARLOTTE
Good Lord, Elle, what is wrong with
you? He’s married!

GABRIELLE
He’s a grown man, Charlotte. He had a
choice to make and he made it.

CHARLOTTE
I see, so he made his own bed but you
get to lay in it? I would think after
what David did, you of all people would
be sensitive to a woman in Gale’s
position.

GABRIELLE
Don’t judge me, Charlotte. And what
happened to the strict line between our
personal and professional lives?

CHARLOTTE
This isn’t personal. It’s strictly
professional.

GABRIELLE
Really?

CHARLOTTE
Billy’s a good football coach, but it
wasn’t just his coaching ability that
led us to hire him. Billy and Gale
Donahue are a brand. A brand that’s
very important to the football program
at this university. You of all people
know that protecting the program is my
highest priority. You screw the coach,
you screw with the program. I can’t
have that, Gabrielle. I won’t.

GABRIELLE
(heartfelt)
But Charlotte...I love him.
 44.

Charlotte sighs, walks away from the desk.

GABRIELLE
I love him and I can’t just let him go.

CHARLOTTE
I’ll tell you what I told your mother
before you were born. I hope to God
that you listen. No man is worth the
heartache you’ll get if you continue
with this affair, and you’ll deserve
every bit of it if you do.

GABRIELLE
I know, but I can’t stop loving him.
I won’t.

END ACT FOUR

 45.

ACT FIVE

EXT. DONAHUE HOME (CONSTRUCTION SITE) – DAY

Gale comes out onto the patio and strides across the yard
toward Mathilda and construction foreman Darryl Banks. She
smiles at workmen going about the business of building her
mother’s cottage.

DARRYL
Mrs. Donahue, how are you?

GALE
Fine, Darryl.
(admires the wood framing)
Things appear to be moving along quite
well.

DARYYL
Yes, they are. Another few days and
we’ll lay in plumbing and electical.

GALE
Darryl, do you mind if I have a few
minutes with Mattie?

DARRYL
No, of course, go ahead.

Gale motions and Mattie follows her.

INT. GALE’S OFFICE – DAY

Gale closes the door behind them. She clocks Mathilda’s

coolness toward her.

GALE
Mattie, I know you think I’m a fool.
And I can understand why you’re so
disappointed in me. I feel awful about
what I did and what I’ve allowed to
happen to me. After everything you’ve
done for me, I know I’ve let you down
somehow, and that just makes me feel
even worse. Five years you’ve taken
(MORE)
 46.

GALE (CONT’D.)
care of me, ever since I reached my
lowest point in Brookhaven...I want you
to know that I love you, Mattie.
(Mathilda reacts)
You’re the sister I never had. The
younger, wiser sister who always covers
for me, and who never complains that I
get all the attention.
(wipes away a tear)
I’m so sorry that I’ve let you down,
Mattie. But I need you. I need you,
Mattie. I really need you.

Mathilda takes Gale in her arms. Gale breaks down in tears.

INT. JOSEPHINE’S PIZZERIA – SUNSET

Valerie puts a slice of pizza in Achilles’ mouth. All over

the restaurant people steal glances at the couple. What
was once rumor is now obvious. The Iceman and the Ice
Princess are lovers.

VALERIE
Here, let me get that.

She pulls a string of melted cheese from his chin with her
finger, sticks it in her mouth.

VALERIE
I can’t take you anywhere, can I?

ACHILLES
It’s pizza, it’s supposed to be messy.

A CELL PHONE RINGS. Achilles pulls the phone from his

pocket, glances at the caller I.D. He reacts, “Oh Shit”,
quickly flips it open.

ACHILLES
Mom, hi.

Valerie gives him some room.

LENA (V.O.)
Lee, are you all right, honey?

ACHILLES
Yeah, Mom, I’m fine. Is everything
alright there?
 47.

LENA (V.O.)
No, baby, they’re not. Portia says you
haven’t returned her calls for days.

ACHILLES
I’ve been busy, Mom. I talked to her
just the other day. I told her we’re
starting conditioning programs, plus
I’ve got new classes and professors to
get used to.

Valerie takes a sip of soda and eyes him intently. This

can’t be good - for her.

LENA (V.O.)
Well we need you to come home for a few
days to help straighten things out with
Reverend Robeson.

ACHILLES
Mom, I told Portia...

LENA (V.O.)
I know what you told her, Achilles, and
that’s not what I want to hear. That
girl is like family – I hope she is one
day - and we don’t ignore family. I
thought I taught you and your brother
better than that.

ACHILLES
Yes, ma’am, you did.

LENA (V.O.)
I’m sure Coach Donahue will understand
and that he can smooth it over with
your professors.

ACHILLES
Yes, ma’am. I’m sure he can.

LENA (V.O.)
Good. Let us know when your plane
arrives and Ulysses will pick you up at
the airport. Bye-bye, baby.

ACHILLES
Bye, Mom.

He flips the phone shut. Valerie looks at him, wheels

turning in her head.
 48.

EXT. RAVE CLUB - NIGHT

J.R. and Gracie are standing in a long line of teens

waiting to get into a club that’s in an old warehouse.
J.R. looks at his watch.

J.R.
Gracie, it’s already past 8 o’clock.
Can’t we just come back on the weekend?

GRACIE
Relax, Johnny. There’s somebody inside
I want you to meet. We won’t stay
long. Promise.

J.R.
But my Mom’s already called twice. I
can’t call her back and say I’m half-
way to Seattle. She’ll flip.

GRACIE
(baby talk)
Mommy’s baby can’t be out late on a
school night?

J.R.
Stop it, Gracie.

The line moves as about 20 people get into the club.

GRACIE
I’m sorry, Johnny. See, we’re moving.
It won’t be long now.

INT. RAVE CLUB – NIGHT

The club pulsates with Psychedelic lights and music and

partiers high on E. Gracie leads J.R. up the industrial
staircase to the second level of the club. Unseen by J.R.
and Gracie is Jamal, lurking in the crowd. Gracie greets
SASHA (20s), a skinny, goateed slacker who’s covered with
tattoos and piercings. They speak loudly to be heard over
the music.

SASHA
Hey, Gigi! What’s up, girl?

GRACIE
Life’s good, Sasha. This is my
boyfriend, Johnny.
 49.

SASHA
Hey, Johnny.

J.R.
Hey.

SASHA
So, Gigi, you’re really gonna go off to
college?

J.R. reacts.

GRACIE
Yeah. But I need to scrape some cash
together fast.
(to J.R.)
Sasha’s got a way I can earn money for
tuition.

J.R.
You’re going off to college?

SASHA
Let’s head out back, I’ll show you the
shit.

INT. BACK ROOM (RAVE CLUB) – NIGHT

Sasha leads J.R. and Gracie into the room. A couple of

TEENAGE BOYS are making out. Sasha smacks one of them in
the head and they quickly leave.

SASHA
Homos. Personally, I don’t get it but
they’re some of my best customers.

GRACIE
Let’s see the stuff.

J.R.
Gracie, this better not be what I think
it is.

SASHA
Whoa! Gigi, you told me he was cool.

GRACIE
He’s cool.
(to J.R.)
Johnny, it’s cool, okay.
 50.

Sasha pulls a PLASTIC BAG out of his inside pocket. Inside

are TINY PINK PILLS.

SASHA
(smiling)
They call these little babies Pixies.
Twice as strong as E. Taste just like
chocolate. Melt in your mouth, not in
your hand.

J.R.
Gracie, you promised you’d stop...

GRACIE
And they’re legal, right, Sasha?

SASHA
Could walk into Chief D’Agostino’s
office with a bucket full and he
couldn’t even write me a ticket.

J.R.
What?

SASHA
That’s right, Johnny, my man. Nothing
in these little fuckers you can’t find
in your kitchen at home, just mixed up
right. Now in about six months, The
Man won’t care about that and he’ll be
cracking down like Adolph at a bar
mitzvah. But in the mean time your
little lady will have made enough to
pay her first year’s tuition,
especially if she sells to those rich
college brats at Wa Tech.

J.R.
Gracie, let’s go.

GRACIE
Johnny...

J.R.
I mean it, Gracie. I’m out of here and
so are you.

He grabs her arm. She jerks away.

 51.

GRACIE
You want me to live in that freaking
trailer my whole life? End up like my
mom, turning tricks to make the rent
whenever I get laid off from some shit-
paying job?

J.R.
Gracie, no...

GRACIE
Well what do you think is going to
happen to me if I don’t go to college,
huh? I’m not like you, Johnny. My
mom’s not Miss America and my father
doesn’t make a million dollars a year.

J.R.
You can get loans and scholarships,
stuff like that.

GRACIE
Jesus, Johnny, are you starting to
believe that crap you tell your mother
about me? Just because I know how to
convert grams of coke into ounces of
smack doesn’t mean I’m a math wizard.
I’m not going to get any scholarships!
What’s the problem, Johnny? They’re
not illegal.

SASHA
Hey, Gigi, I thought you were straight
with this. If you’re not I’ve got to
keep shopping.

Sasha puts the bag away and starts for the door.

GRACIE
Johnny, I don’t want to end up like my
mom. Please, help me!

Sasha opens the door.

J.R.
(to Sasha)
You’re sure they’re not illegal?

Sasha smiles at him.

 52.

INT. HYUNDAI – MOVING – NIGHT

J.R. stares out the passenger window, intentionally

ignoring Gracie.

GRACIE
Johnny.

He turns his head completely to the side. She puts a hand

on his thigh. He tries to move further away.

GRACIE
Johnny, I wouldn’t ask you to help me
if I thought you’d get into trouble
with your folks. You couldn’t get
picked up for dealing because Pixies
aren’t illegal.

J.R.
When were you going to tell me you were
going away to college?

GRACIE
Oh, that. I didn’t know if I’d get
accepted so I didn’t want to jinx it by
telling anybody.

J.R.
Where are you going?

GRACIE
State. It’s only 3 hours away. You
could drive to Pullman on the weekends.

J.R.
In what, Gracie?

INT. VALERIE’S ROOM – DAY

Valerie is pulling clothes out of her closet, putting them

in a travel bag. Nina is on her bed flipping through ELLE
MAGAZINE.

NINA
There’s not much left in there. Most
of your things are already at the loft.

VALERIE
It’s just that it’s such a pain having
to go back and forth for everything.
You understand, don’t you, Nina?
 53.

NINA
Sure, Big Sis, I get it. So what do we
tell Richard if he calls?

VALERIE
He never calls on the house phone.

Valerie stops, clocks Nina’s expression.

VALERIE
What’s that look?

NINA
Look? What look?

VALERIE
That, ‘Sure I get it but I think you’re
making a giga-mistake look?’

NINA
Oh, you mean the ‘Sure I get it but I
think you’re making a giga-mistake
look?’

VALERIE
(annoyed)
Will you make up your mind already?
First you’re like, ‘Richard’s 800 miles
away and what he doesn’t know won’t
hurt him,’ and now you’re carving a
giant “A” into my forehead with your
eyes. You can’t have it both ways,
Nina.

NINA
But apparently you can.
(off Valerie’s reaction)
All I’m saying is that you’re taking a
huge risk shacking up like this. What
if Richard makes a surprise visit?

VALERIE
(back to packing)
Richard’s in the second year of his
residency, Nina, he doesn’t do
surprises. Look, Achilles is going
back to Jersey for a week. You don’t
think she’s going to be all over him
like a drunk Gamma skank at a keg
party?
 54.

NINA
So what if she is? She is his real
girlfriend. Besides, you said you and
Achilles agreed this is just a guilty
pleasure until you graduate and you
both go back to your real lives.
Right?

VALERIE
Right, yes, of course. But...

Nina shakes her head, gives her the giga-mistake look.

INT. BLACK RANGE ROVER - MOVING – DAY

Billy’s behind the wheel, deep in thought. He pulls into

the Donahue driveway, cuts the engine, stares straight
ahead at the garage door.

INT. AIRPORT TERMINAL – DAY

Achilles and Valerie walk through the terminal holding

hands. They reach the security checkpoint. She smiles,
touches his face gently, kisses him on the lips.

VALERIE
I’ll pick you up Tuesday night.

He touches her hand on his face. Notices something

different.

ACHILLES
Where’s your engagement ring?

VALERIE
I put it in a safe deposit box at the
bank this morning. It’s safer there.

He reacts.

P.A. SYSTEM (V.O.)

Now boarding all rows, Continental
Airlines flight 8085 to Newark.

ACHILLES
I guess this is it.

They embrace. Valerie whispers something in his ear. They

look into each other’s eyes, kiss one last time before he
 55.

turns to go through security. She watches as he walks down

the terminal toward the gate.

A few feet away, DETECTIVE REYNOLDS (35), wearing a rumpled

suit that screams police detective, exits the secure
section of the terminal. He walks right past Valerie.
CAMERA PICKS UP with him and we follow him down an
escalator toward baggage claim.

EXT. DONAHUE HOME – DAY

Billy closes the door to the Range Rover, walks to the

front of the house. At the front door, he turns and looks
around, taking it all in as if seeing the home and all that
it represents for the first time. He opens the front door
and steps inside.

INT. CHARLOTTE WEBB’S OFFICE – DAY

Charlotte’s at her desk perusing papers. The door to her

office opens and her secretary Deborah Thrower walks in.

DEBORAH
Mr. Reynolds is here.

CHARLOTTE
Please show him in.

She stands and walks around her desk. Detective Reynolds

comes in.

REYNOLDS
Dr. Webb, thank you for seeing me on
such short notice.

CHARLOTTE
Please, come in, Mr. Reynolds.

REYNOLDS
Actually, it’s Detective Reynolds, East
Orange Police Department. Homicide.

FADE OUT.

END OF EPISODE